Volmering home from hospital

Published 8:00 pm, Wednesday, August 26, 2009

HURON COUNTY— The Sherman Township boy attacked by a dog Aug. 20 has made his way back home after being treated at Children’s Hospital in Detroit.

According to Trooper Brian McComb of the Michigan State Police post in Bad Axe, Luke Volmering, 2, was released from the hospital and is now home with his family.

McComb also reports the dog involved in the attack tested negative for rabies. The results were received by the Huron County Health Department Wednesday.

Volmering was feeding the family dog when another dog approached and attacked the boy.

The incident took place outside the Volmering home, located on Purdy Road near Schock Road around 5:30 p.m. Aug. 20.

Reports indicate Volmering sustained bites to his head, face and eye area. Following the attack at Volmering’s home, the boy was taken to Harbor Beach Community Hospital and later was transported to Children’s Hospital for further medical treatment.

McComb reports the boy, while at the hospital, also was given rabies shots, since the dog that attacked him was believed to be a stray at the time, and had not been immediately located.

The evening following the attack, the boy’s father was inside the Purdy Road home when he heard one of his sons scream outside.

“The dog had returned (to the Volmering’s property) and was being aggressive,” said McComb, who reported Richard Volmering fatally shot the dog around 9:30 p.m. Aug. 21.

The dog’s body was initially taken to a vet in Harbor Beach then transported to Lansing to be tested.

McComb described the dog as a 6-year-old male German shepherd/lab mix. The dog was not licensed and it is unknown at this time if the dog was current on its rabies shots. The owners of the dog have been identified, and live approximately two miles from the Volmering home. The dog’s owners have been questioned by police. McComb reports it is unclear at this time if the matter will be reviewed by the Huron County Prosecutor for possible criminal charges.